Arsenic (As) contamination has become a global environmental issue for years, with the most severe problem occurring in Southeast Asia and China. There has been a particular research interest since the first As-hyperaccumulator, Pteris vittata L., was identified. The mechanism of accumulation and metabolism of As in P. vittata can contribute to the optimization of phytoremediation. P. vittata has developed different ecotypes during its long-term evolution process. It is shown that there are significant differences in As accumulation and tolerance among the ecotypes of P. vittata. Based on a systematic analysis of characteristic and mechanism of As accumulation in P. vittata, the present work reviews the latest progress in the effects of different ecotypes on As accumulation in P. vittata. The preliminary result shows that the nonmetallicolous ecotypes possess more effective As accumulation than the metallicolous ecotypes, suggesting that the efficiency of phytoextration can be greatly enhanced by judicious selection of appropriate ecotypes of P. vittata. However, it is still not fully clear how molecular mechanisms are related to accumulation and tolerance of As in different ecotypes of P. vittata. Further studies should concentrate on key functional genes and the process involved in As hyperaccumulation in P. vittata.

arsenic contamination  /  Pteris vittata L.  /  ecotype  /  intraspecific variation